A Tiger Grabs China by the Tail – Kent Ewing

From Asia Time Online:

What do the South China tiger and the Loch Ness Monster have in common? According to a rising chorus of jeers in mainland China, neither one exists – photographs to the contrary.

But, whereas there has been no recent sighting of “Nessie” in the Scottish loch from which the mythical monster takes its name, a series of apparently fake photographs of the South China tiger, allegedly taken last October by a farmer in north-central Shaanxi province, has sparked national outrage.

Interestingly, it is China’s ever-expanding hoi polloi of Internet users who have led the charge, followed by scientists, wildlife experts and professional photographers. One Netizen, mindful of past American scandals, has dubbed the attempted ruse “Tigergate”. [Full Text]